Articles and Blogs

The sale of Ascension’s 11 Illinois hospitals for $375M to Prime Healthcare has received regulatory approval. The transaction is part of Ascension’s strategic realignment of its health care facilities to focus on outpatient care. Advocate Health Care, the largest health system in Illinois, plans to invest $1B over the next decade to expand its... READ MORE

NATIONAL 5 issues shaping anesthesia in 2025 4 new healthcare laws in 2025 Agency nurses linked to lower CMS ratings: 2 notes ASC leaders ‘divided’ on noncompetes ASCs to capitalize on growth in 2025 Biden signs law to include optometrists in physician pay scale CMS selects states for Medicaid maternal health model Cut swing-bed... READ MORE

Health care continues to drive private equity (“PE”) activity, creating opportunities for investors and traditional health care providers. Transactions in the health care space are especially complicated, layering health care regulatory and reimbursement considerations on top of a complex securities, antitrust, privacy and security framework. Hall Render’s PE team of attorneys and advisors leverage... READ MORE

On November 26, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released a proposed rule that revises the Medicare Advantage (“MA”) Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (“Part D”), Medicare Cost Plan Program and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly for the Contract Year 2026 (“Proposed Rule”). The Proposed Rule clarifies the... READ MORE

On December 31, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released a memo titled “Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility Acute Respiratory Illness Reporting Requirements” (“Memo”) to state survey agency directors providing survey guidance related to requirements for long-term care reporting through the National Healthcare Safety Network (“NHSN”) as COVID-19 data reporting requirements ended... READ MORE

Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act (“ESTA”) is set to take effect on February 21, 2025. As a result of a decision from the Michigan Supreme Court in July 2024, employers will now have to comply with the ESTA, a voter-initiated legislation from 2018. The ESTA will replace Michigan’s Paid Medical Leave Act. Key Provisions... READ MORE

The health care real estate industry experienced breakthroughs and challenges in 2024. Below are our health care real estate predictions for 2025. 2025 Predictions The election of President Trump will surely shake things up for health care providers in the new year. We expect a more favorable environment for M&A activity and possible deregulation... READ MORE

NATIONAL 16 cardiology practices to pay $17.7M in Medicare fraud settlement 10 behavioral health policy changes taking effect in 2025 An uncertain era for Stark law: 12 updates in 2024 CMS launches campaign to support nursing home staffing rule CMS taps 4 states for behavioral innovation model: 5 things to know Epic files to... READ MORE

Under the federal Stark Law, hospitals, physician groups, labs and other provider entities may provide non-monetary (i.e., non-cash or cash equivalent) compensation to physicians up to an aggregate amount of $519 for calendar year 2025. The dollar limit for “medical staff incidental benefits” provided by a hospital to a member of its medical staff... READ MORE

On November 21, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued revised guidance under QSO-25-09-ALL, updating Core Appendix Q of the State Operations Manual regarding findings of immediate jeopardy. These updates are intended to enhance transparency, standardize immediate jeopardy determinations and improve communication with providers, suppliers and laboratories. These revisions apply to... READ MORE